Icon of the Month: The Sartorial Elegance of Jean Cocteau

Cutting a dandy-like figure in bohemian Paris, Jean Cocteau was a French artist, poet, writer and filmmaker, most well known for his novel, ‘Les Enfants Terribles,’ and his film, ‘La Belle et La Bete.’ He would most often be found socialising with the avant-garde crowd, counting Marcel Proust, Pablo Picasso and Edith Piaf as friends of his.

Always immaculately put together, Cocteau never let his standing as a well-respected artist and intellectual stop him from taking great care in his appearance. In fact, he did it with great flair and panache; never seen without a shirt and tie.

At King & Allen, we appreciate a man who understands that, rather than being frivolous and self-involved, dressing well is a form of self-expression (and in turn, self-respect.)

Today, we are celebrating the sartorial life of Jean Cocteau, taking a look at our favourite suits worn by him. Read on to be inspired

“Style is a simple way of saying complicated things.” - Jean Cocteau

A fantastic Prince of Wales check suit, worn with such swagger. Worn with a contrasting houndstooth waistcoat, Cocteau keeps the rest of the look simple with a hint of a pocket square and wide leg trousers with turn-ups.

Cocteau can often be seen with his jacket cuffs rolled back, as demonstrated in this photograph by Cecil Beaton. This is a subtle bit of a styling that shows real flair. With the addition of the paisley silk scarf, it’s a confident look with tons of personality.

A more casual look from Jean Cocteau here, with a light colour workman-style jacket (Spot the cuffs on the jacket again!) The jacket is worn with relaxed fit, light trousers with a turn-up cuff and belted on the waist. The tie tuck can look a little pretentious, but he pulls it off! (Not one to try at home, though)

A stunning 3 piece herringbone tweed suit worn by a young Cocteau, that would look just as cool today as it did back then. Note the 4 buttons on the cuff and the wide lapels – dandyish details that set it apart.

This is a drawing Jean Cocteau did for the Advocate’s 75th Anniversary issue in 1942. Even in his own self-portraits, he depicted himself as a man with style! He even included his signature small knot on the tie.

Get the Look

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If you loved Cocteau’s herringbone tweed suit as much as we do, and would like something similar, we recommend using Holland and Sherry’s Peacock cloth. It’s on the heavier end of midweight, so would make a superb winter suit. Opt for a 2 piece, unless you want to feel very warm!

If you’d like us to send you a free fabric sample of any of these cloths, please contact us, quoting the cloth code (hover over image to get this) and your address.

The term ‘pinstripe’ refers to the very thin, parallel lines that run through a cloth, contrasting with the main colour. Taken at face value, it would seem to be a fairly bland description of a simple fabric pattern. But the history of the pinstripe suit is anything from bland and, indeed, the suit itself has a host of connotations attached to it.

The new Peaky Blinders series is back with a bang and we’re not just talking about the storylines. As ever, Tommy and his crew look as sharp as the razor blades the real-life Peaky Blinder gang were rumoured to stitch into the peak of their flat caps.

Nothing pulls an outfit together more than the addition of an overcoat. It's been a staple in the fashion landscape for years and has recently had something of a resurgence in the public imagination...